Rhondda Cynon Taf Crime Rate

Rhondda Cynon Taf presents a stable safety profile with an overall crime rate of 87.6 per 1,000 people, which sits below the UK average of 91.7. The area boasts a safety score of 78/100, aligning closely with the national average of 79. Over the past year, the crime trend has remained remarkably consistent, showing only a minor 0.2% decrease. This stability suggests a predictable environment for residents across the valleys. While certain categories like violence and anti-social behaviour are more frequently reported, the property crime rate is significantly lower than the national benchmark, indicating a relatively lower risk to homes and personal assets in the region.

Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) is a diverse local authority in South Wales, characterised by its unique blend of industrial heritage, tight-knit valley communities, and expanding residential areas. The region's crime statistics are influenced by its geography, consisting of several distinct towns and villages separated by steep hillsides. While largely residential, the area includes significant commercial centres and transport corridors that connect the valleys to Cardiff. Economic factors, including historical industrial shifts and varying levels of employment, play a role in the local crime profile. The population is generally stable, though some areas experience higher density which can contribute to anti-social behaviour reports. The local nightlife is mostly concentrated in town centres like Pontypridd and Aberdare, which can influence weekend crime figures, particularly public order and violence-related offences.

In Rhondda Cynon Taf, the most frequent crime category is violence and sexual offences, representing 44.1% of all recorded incidents with a rate of 38.6 per 1,000 residents. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 11.5 per 1,000 (13.1%) and public order offences at 10.5 per 1,000 (12.0%). These figures highlight that social and interpersonal offences are the primary drivers of the local crime rate.

Property-related crime in Rhondda Cynon Taf is notably lower than the UK average, with a combined rate of 20.9 per 1,000 people. This includes criminal damage and arson (7.4%), shoplifting (4.8%), and other theft (4.7%). Vehicle crime and burglary are relatively uncommon, accounting for 3.5% and 2.5% of total crimes respectively. For homeowners, this suggests that while the risk of traditional break-ins is lower than in many other parts of the UK, protecting property against criminal damage and opportunistic theft remains a relevant consideration for maintaining a safe household.

The crime trend in Rhondda Cynon Taf is currently classified as stable, with a negligible 0.2% decrease in total recorded offences year-over-year. A closer look at the monthly data from December 2024 to November 2025 shows a relatively consistent pattern, with crime rates mostly hovering between 6.0 and 8.0 per 1,000 residents. There was a noticeable peak in July 2025, where the rate reached 8.5, followed by a dip in September to 6.3. This suggests that while there are minor seasonal fluctuations—potentially linked to warmer weather and increased outdoor activity in the summer—the overall level of criminal activity remains very steady. For residents, this predictability is a positive sign that the local safety environment is not undergoing any significant negative shifts.

Rhondda Cynon Taf occupies a central position in the South Wales valleys, and its crime rate of 87.6 per 1,000 people is higher than several of its immediate neighbours. Areas such as Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent, and the Vale of Glamorgan all show significantly lower crime figures in this data period. It is important to note that RCT is one of the most populous local authorities in Wales, which naturally contributes to a higher volume of recorded incidents compared to smaller neighbours. While it records more crime than the surrounding rural and smaller valley authorities, it remains a statistically safer option compared to the nearby capital city of Cardiff, providing a balanced safety profile for the region.

With a property crime rate of 20.9 per 1,000 in Rhondda Cynon Taf, residents enjoy a safer environment than many other parts of the UK. However, criminal damage and arson remain the most frequent property-related issues. Traditional security often fails here because it only records the damage after it has happened. scOS changes this dynamic by offering proactive, AI-driven protection. Instead of just capturing footage of an incident, scOS uses multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property's perimeter in real-time. It can distinguish between a neighbour and a potential threat, triggering autonomous responses like turning on lights or playing audible warnings to deter individuals before any damage is done. For homeowners in the valleys, this means moving beyond reactive DIY cameras to a system that prevents crime. By destroying the element of surprise and identifying threats at the boundary, scOS provides a sophisticated layer of security that aligns perfectly with the goal of maintaining the area's relatively low property crime levels.

How To Keep Safe in Rhondda Cynon Taf

As violence and sexual offences are the most commonly reported crimes in Rhondda Cynon Taf, personal safety and community awareness are the most effective tools for residents. To stay safe in the area, consider the following advice:

• Be mindful when walking in town centres like Pontypridd or Aberdare during late-night hours, especially on weekends when public order incidents may be more frequent. Stick to well-lit main roads.
• Foster strong relationships with your neighbours. In the close-knit communities of the valleys, looking out for one another is a powerful deterrent against anti-social behaviour and opportunistic crime.
• If you encounter anti-social behaviour, avoid direct confrontation and report the incident to the local neighbourhood policing team. Community reporting helps the police allocate resources to the areas that need them most.
• Ensure that home entrances are visible and well-lit. Simple measures can discourage loitering and reduce the likelihood of criminal damage to your property.
• When using public transport late at night, try to wait in well-lit areas and stay alert to your surroundings until you reach your destination.